This Dad Blew the Whistle on Torture



CODEPINK

May 29, 2014

Dear Activist,

In the US, those responsible for the crime of torture are free….But John Kiriakou, who blew the whistle on CIA torture, is in prison for 30 months, away from his wife and children. Now his family needs our help to take care of their kids and keep a roof over their head. Will you make a donation today that we can give to them this Father’s Day?

His wife Heather sent us this message:

Like many parents, our children and their happiness mean everything to John and me. They have one chance to grow up and the last thing we want is for this nightmare to be the defining moment of their childhood. Thus, prior to and during John's incarceration, our main focus has been trying to ensure that Chris, Costa, Max, Kate & Charlie are minimally impacted by it.

The reason John accepted the plea deal was to minimize his time away from the kids and not risk missing too milestones in their young lives. John has always been a very involved and devoted father and we miss him terribly. While the kids are remarkably resilient, his absence has been painful for each of the children in different ways. For example, Charlie, our 2 year-old, is angry that he cannot pick up the phone and call daddy. Max, our 9 year-old, has developed chronic nausea because he is constantly worrying about his dad. Kate, our 7 year-old, cries herself to sleep many nights because she misses John's bedtime stories and the folk songs they sang together. The best remedy for the kids has been keeping them as busy as possible to make time go quickly until our family can be reunited.

Your Father's Day fundraiser will ensure that the children will be able to spend their summer days doing fun activities and enjoying their childhoods rather than focusing on John's absence. We are so incredibly lucky to have people like you who are willing to make personal sacrifices to ensure the well-being of our family during this extraordinarily difficult time. John and I are very grateful for your love and support.

Sincerely,
Heather

Since Heather has sent us this note, we received the heartbreaking news that the Kiriakou family is in danger of losing their home because mortgage payments are difficult to keep up with. Every dollar we raise beyond the cost of summer camp will be given to Heather so she can take care of her children and keep a roof over their heads.

You can also help by sending John a message of support:
John Kiriakou, 79637-083
Federal Correctional Institution Loretto
P.O.Box 1000
Loretto, PA 15940

In pursuit of truth and transparency,
Alli, Ashley, Farah, Ikram, Janet, Jodie, Lisa, Medea, Nancy, Sara, Sergei, Tighe

PS: If you’re in the DC area, join us at the new Pink House for a Father's Day fundraiser event for John's family hosted by CODEPINK and FireDogLake. RSVP now!